Despite Test Range Success – Iron Dome Is Not Operational Yet

Iron Dome seen here on one of its earlier firing tests, launched from a test rig. The recent flights were carried out from the system's multi-launcher firing assembly, designed for rapid deployment and autonomous operation in the field. Photo: Rafael

The Israel Air Force’s first Iron Dome counter Rocket, Artillery and Missile (C-RAM) system has passed a significant milestone last week, with the first Iron Dome battalion performing successful, intercepts of multiple targets simulating five different operational scenarios of threats fired at different trajectories and ranges. Following the successful induction process, the Iron-Dome battalion is expected to be announced operationally ready within the upcoming weeks – several months after the scheduled deployment plan.

According to Haaretz reporter Anshel Pfeffer, the IAF was in possession of the first of two Iron Dome batteries for a number of months already. Owing to a series of technical problems, initial operational capability was delayed, and is now expected to take place ‘within a number of weeks’. Some parts of the second battery have already been delivered to the IAF.

The IAF estimates that 13 Iron Dome systems will be required to effectively protect Israeli civilians from short-range missiles. It is not yet clear if and when the new battery will be deployed in southern Israel. The IAF currently plans on positioning the battery in the base and only deploying it upon demand. Despite that, members of the Knesset’s (Israel’s parliament) Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee demand the battery be positioned in the Israeli towns near the Gaza border.

In late 2010, the U.S. allocated $205 million for Iron Dome procurement; however, the actual funding has yet to be approved as part of U.S. federal 2011 budget.

1 COMMENT

Most probable the IAF wants to keep both the first, as well as the second “Iron Dome” battery within their air-bases, in order to protect at least two IAF’s air-bases from any suprise attack by long-range heavy artillery rockets, and/or short/medium range ground-to-ground missiles, fired by either Hizbullah/Syria or by the Hamas. The Haaretz article is, as always, inconsistent. In one place the journalist writes: “13 systems” He must mean by that 13 batteries! In another place he writes, that the extra 205 million USD of the US military Aid for the Iron Dome project covers costs for some 8 to 9 batteries, which is half of what the IAF would need to protect BOTH the North and the South. That would mean 16 to 18 batteries! In any case, if the Rafael gets a chance to produce the next 8 batteries for these US money, then, together with the current 2 it will give the IAF 10 Iron Dome batteries, and from the strategic point of view the situation will be MUCH better, that it is now.